Motor operated switch



June 8, 1937. w BEUSCH 2,083,425

MOTOR OPERATED swITcH Filed ept. 8 19:54

41 14 0 I Q Q ,17

6 I 1 INSULATION I/VSdLAT/O/V I); re a, to -r I Afforheys.

Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES MOTOR OPERATED SWITCH Willi Beusch, Zug,

Landis & Gyr, A.-G., Switzerland Application September 8, 1934,

In Switzerland September 15,

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to motor-operated electric switches and more particularly to a novel and improved switch of this type particularly adapted for use at a distance from the operator.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed view, partially in section, of the coupling between the two shafts;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the switch and its operating cam; and

Figure 5 is another diagram of another portion of the operating cam.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel and improved motor-operated switch in which the motor is always returned to its initial position after each operation. An-

other object is the provision of a motor-operated switch in which the motor operates the switch quickly and may thereafter be de-energized without disturbing the setting of the switch. Still another object is the provision of an improved switch for the remote control of Various circuits, such as a street-lighting circuit.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, there is provided a switch operated by rotary movement, and an electric motor for operating the switch, the motor being coupled to the rotatable part of the switch by means of a pawl and ratchet device or other one-way clutching arrangement, while a spring is provided against which the motor operates which serves to return the motor, but not the switch, to its original position after de-energization of the motor. Suitable means are provided whereby the switching cycle may be varied to cope with va- Switzerland,

assignor to a joint-stock company of Serial No. 743,223 1933 rious requirements, and other means are provided permitting manual operation of the switch when that may be necessary.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawing, the apparatus is contained within a casing, and may be mounted upon the rear wall or base I of the casing, the cover not being shown. The switch comprises a stationary contact 2 mounted on an insulating block 3 and connected to a terminal screw 4 to which the electrical connection may be made. "The movable contact 5 is mounted on a leaf spring 6 of conducting material and is connected with terminal screw 1, also mounted on block 3. For moving the contact 5 to open or close'the circuit a small bar of insulating material 8 extends'upwardly from the spring 6 and at its upper end carries a cam follower 9 journalled in the upper forked end In of the bar 8. Cam follower 9 'coacts withthe cam H which is rotatably mounted by shaft l2 journalled in its bearings l3 projecting outwardly from the base plate I. In order to'provide for more than a single cycle of switching operations and to render the apparatus more flexible in its operation, particularly where several of the devices are to' be controlled from a single source, the cam II is formed with two cam tracks Ha and Ill). On cam track lib, the positions 0, 1' and 2' correspond respectively to off, off and "on positions of the switch contacts 2 and i 5, while on cam track Ila, these positions correspond respectively to "on, on and off.

The motor operating means for the switch may be a small induction disc motor of the Ferraris type and as shown comprises a magnet coil I5 which may be supplied with electrical energy of suitable Voltage and frequency from terminals within the terminal box l6. Coil I5 is wound on the magnet core. I! having its legs on opposite sides of the disc rotor l8 which is rotatably journalled in bearings IS. A pinion 20 is fixed to the rotor shaft 2| and meshes with a gear 22 mounted on the countershaft 23 and coupled thereto by means of friction coupling 24.: Shaft 23 is rotatably journalled in its bearings l3 and 26 which are supported on the base plate I.

Means are provided for coupling the motor' driven counter shaft 23 to the switch-operating shaft l2 for operating the switch from the motor; and for this purpose a three-toothed ratchet 28 is fixed to the shaft I2 near one end, while a resilient pawl 29 is mounted on shaft 23 by means of collar 29' fixed to the shaft by means of set screw 30 and supporting the pawl-carrying arm 3|. Means are provided for holding the switch-operating shaft I2 against rotation by reverse movement of the pawl 29, and for this purpose a leaf spring 32 bears against the ratchet 28 and engages with the ratchet teeth. Rotation of the shaft 23 in one direction thereby causes rotation of the switch actuating shaft I2 in the same direction, but reverse rotation of the shaft 23 does not move the shaft I2.

Means are provided for returning the motor to its original position after each switching operation and upon de-energization of the motor. For this purpose, a spring 34 is coiled about the shaft 23 and has one end fixed to the shaft 23 by means of collar 29', while its other end is fixed to plate 26 in which the shaft 23 is journalled. This spring is wound by the motor when energized, and when the motor is deenergized, the spring drives the motor in the reverse direction.

Means are provided for limiting movement of the countershaft 23 in either direction and a plate 38 secured to the shaft 23 is formed with a stop 39 coacting with the abutments 40 and M. At rest, the stop 39 normally lies against the abutment 40, while the abutment 4| prevents shaft 23 being moved too far on each throw. The position of these abutments is preferably such as to permit the shaft 23 to have approximately one-half revolution at each operation to insure the cam II being moved one-third of a revolution each time, although these relations are not fixed and may be varied as desired.

When it is desired to shift from one. of the cam faces Ila, or III) to the other, the set screw securing the cam I I to the shaft may be loosened, permitting axial movement of the cam on its shaft, and the cam may be moved so that either of its tracks lies beneath the cam follower 9.

Means are also provided for permitting the switch to be operated by hand, as is necessary in case the switching sequence is to be changed, or in case the switch gets out of step. For this purpose, a knob 44 is provided at the outer end of shaft I2, and preferably outside the case, and by turning this knob with the fingers, the switching cam II may be advanced as desired. Knob 44 is preferably provided with indicating marks to show which face of the cam is against the cam follower 9.

The operation of the described embodiment may be summarized as follows:

The motor coil I5 is energized by current transmitted to it and causes rotation of the disc I8 thereby rotating shaft 23 against the tension of spring 34. Movement of shaft 23 causes a corresponding movement of arm 3| and pawl 23 which engages with a tooth of ratchet '28 to rotate the shaft I2. This rotation of the shaft I2 rotates cam II causing movement of the cam follower 9 in accordance with the shape of the cam track Ila or III) and opening or closing of the switch by movement of the movable contact 5. One complete movement of the shaft 23, until it is stopped by abutment 4| causes a onethird revolution of the cam I I.

Thereafter, upon de-energization of the motor, the cam II is held in the position to which it was moved by means of the spring 32, and the pawl 29 rides over the teeth of ratchet 28, being reversely driven by the unwinding of spring 34,

which at the same time reversely drives the motor and returns it to its original position. The inertia of the disc I8, the slight friction of the bearings and gear teeth as well as the braking action of the. disc I8 tend to prevent reverse rotation of the shaft 23 and disc at too great a speed. This reverse rotation continues until the disc !8. has been sufliciently moved to bring the stop 39 against abutment 40, in which position the parts remain until the motor is again energized, whereupon the operations are repeated moving the switch to its next position.

The shape of the switching cam II may be changed as desired, but with the form shown,

and using two of the devices to control different lighting circuits, by placing the two cams I I one step out of phase with respect to each other it is possible to light the lamps in both circuits or in either circuit, or by shifting the cams. axially of their shafts it is possible to light the lamps in either or neither circuit. The switching apparatus may be positioned wherever desired and may be operated from any remote point. Thus, for instance, the switching device may be located in a store to control the show-window lights and may be controlled by a time-switch in the central station.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A motor actuated electric switch including in combination a pair of contacts, rotary Ferraris motor means to move one contact relatively to the other to open or close a circuit, yielding means always connected to the motor for opposing movement of the motor and contact, means for holding the contact in the position to which it is moved while permitting the return of the motor to its initial position after de-energization.

2. A motor actuated electric switch including in combination a pair of contacts, rotary Ferraris motor means to move one contact relatively to the other to open or close a circuit, a oneway clutch interconnecting the motor and movable contact, a stop preventing independent movement of the contact, and a spring acting against the motor for reversely driving the motor, but not the movable contact, after de-energization of the motor.

3. A motor actuated electric switch including in combination a switch operable by rotary motion, a rotary Ferraris motor to operate the switch, a one-way clutch interconnecting the motor and switch, and a spring acting against the motor to return it to its initial position after de-energization.

4. A motor actuated electric switch including in combination a switch operable by rotary motion, a rotary Ferraris motor to operate the switch, a one-Way clutch interconnecting the motor and switch, and a spring acting against the motor to return it to its initial position after deenergization, said switch, clutch and spring being coaxial.

5. A motor actuated electric switch including in combination a pair of contacts, rotary motor means to move one contact relatively to the other to open or close a circuit, a one-way clutch interconnecting the motor and movable contact, reduction gearing between the motor and the one-Way clutch, a stop preventing independent movement of the contact, and a spring action against the motor for reversely driving the motor through the reduction gearing, but not the movable contact, after de-energization of the motor.

6. A motor actuated electric switch including in combination a pair of contacts, rotary motor means to move one contact relatively to the other to open or close a circuit, a one-way clutch inter- 10 connecting the motor and movable contact, a reduction gearing between the motor and clutch, a shaft driven by the reduction gearing from the motor to actuate the one-way clutch, a stop preventing independent movement of the contact, and a helical spring coaxial with said shaft and acting against the motor through the reduction gearing for reversely driving the motor, but not the movable contact, after de-energization of the motor.

WILLI BEUSCH. 

